Common, (and not so common) conditions helped by massage
This list is compiled from actual client conditions helped by Bodytopia™ Remedial & Restorative massage treatments. Given the intricacy and complexity of the human body and condition, we can give no guarantee that a treatment that helped one person, will necessarily help you.
Nevertheless, clients are regularly surprised when we are able to help them with a condition that they have been told needs surgery, or cannot be helped.
Stress underlies, amplifies, and is a major contributor to every illness, so it is reasonable that massage which activates the body’s parasympathetic nervous system (the rest, relax, recharge, regenerate part of our nervous system), will have a positive impact on stress related illnesses and conditions. Further, clinical medical trials of massage show key benefits to be: – Anxiety relief – Decrease in pain – Improvement in restorative sleep – Increased participation in activities of daily living
Aids, HIV and Hepatitis C
Studies have shown massage provides benefits including improved immune system, and reductions in anxiety, anger, total mood disturbance and perceived stress.
Asthma
Particularly exercised induced- relaxing and stretching the muscles of the chest wall improves breathing.
Anorexia nervosa
Restoration of muscle tone, and may help in creating a more positive body image.
Auto-immune disease e.g
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythrematosus-SLE); Sjogren's syndrome; and Scleroderma are all conditions that adversely affect connective tissue. Massage can be beneficially employed for these conditions, with gentle styles used during flare-ups, and the more vigorous remedial styles saved for periods of remission.
Back pain
New medical guidelines recommend massage and exercise as first line treatments.
Bloating and constipation
Peristaltic massage has been utilised in hospitals for constipation and cupping is very beneficial also.
Bruxism (Teeth grinding)
Another muscle tension stress condition causing painful teeth and poor sleep, bruxism is helped by massage.
Cancer
Massage is a safe treatment for cancer at any stage and cannot spread cancer. (NSW Cancer Council publication). Although some precautions and possible modifications may be necessary, massage provides many benefits safely. Studies have shown that massage can be beneficial and safe when used in an oncology palliative care setting. Some massage therapists have chosen to undergo specialist oncology massage training. We can provide a referral to a qualified oncology massage therapist if required.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Cupping, massage and magnetic therapies can provide significant relief.
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Massage is very helpful.
Compartment syndrome
A small unpublished study by doctors at the Australian Institute of Sport involving one of our therapists, reduced calf compartment pressures significantly, although the mechanism is not understood
Depression
A meta-analysis demonstrated that massage was significantly associated with alleviating depressive symptoms.
Dislocations
While your dislocated joint will need medical attention and maybe even surgery, massage is useful in the rehabilitative phase following dislocation.
Fatigue
Massage can help fatigue depending on the cause e.g. fatigue caused from cancer is less treatable than fatigue from overwork, lack of sleep.
Fibromyalgia
Presents in varied patterns with tolerated pressures varying, but responses to massage generally good.
Frozen shoulder
So called "frozen shoulder" if muscular in cause, responds excellently to massage. We have successfully treated “frozen shoulder” even after surgery for labral and multiple muscle tears.
Golfer's or Tennis elbow (Lateral and/or medial epicondylitis)
Not always caused by these sports. Can also be occupational. Many ways to treat successfully with massage useful, as well as taping and cupping.
Headaches and migraines
Common stress/tension headaches respond well. Regular treatments reduce and remove migraine attacks.
Insomnia (can't sleep, or poor-quality sleep)
Many clients report much improved sleep patterns following massage, especially regular massage.
Irritable bowel
This stress related syndrome responds well to a variety of massage approaches.
Jaw pain (TMJ syndrome)
The powerful muscles that help chew and grind food can be effectively treated with massage.
Lymphoedema (Lymph fluid swelling)
As well as the training in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) techniques within her Diploma of Remedial Massage, Sonoko has completed additional certified training. More than 30,00 Victorian women alone have some degree of lymphodema, often secondary to cancer, and this massage technique is proven to help.
Mental illness
Given the known benefits of massage it makes sense that it will help those afflicted by mental illness. In a Russian study published in the American Journal of Public Health (2002), sufferers of schizophrenia, bipolar, and major depression were studied, and the methods used to find relief from symptoms described. 31% had used massage. Benefits described by study participants were; muscle relaxation, improved sleep, increased energy, decreased pain, improved emotional calmness and functioning.
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
So successful of treatment of MS in one client, that her work paid for her ongoing massage sessions when she had to reduce work hours and was struggling to afford her treatments herself.
Muscle pain and injury
Muscle strains and sprains are commonly helped by massage as soft tissues which include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and joint capsules, are our main training, and multiple studies attest to massages effectiveness in both prevention and treatment.
Myalgia parasthetica
Myalgia Parasthetica, is a painful, distressing condition that is hard to treat. We had results that were gratifying for our first Myalgia Parasthetica client, Gary. You can read Garry's story on our testimonial page, but in brief, after seventeen (17) years of pain and discomfort and weekly treatments from a number of practitioners without relief, we were thrilled to have Garry report an end to his suffering from Myalgia Parasthetic. Since then we have treated a number of other sufferers from Myalgia Parasthetica all with excellent results.
Numbness and tingling
Numbness and or tingling, "pins and needles: may be serious symptoms, but are often no more than a nerve entrapment caused by a tight muscle/s, and so are eminently treatable with massage in most cases.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis affects mostly the large weight bearing joints. A number of medical studies have cautiously suggested that massage therapy may be beneficial for the pain of knee arthritis, and generally massage and movement have been found helpful. A recent study of massage for knee osteoarthritis determined that once-a-week 60 minute treatments for eight weeks was most beneficial.
Overuse injuries
The best known of these is Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI), and carpal tunnel syndrome, but there are other overuse injuries which can be helped with massage and cupping besides these two most common injuries.
Parkinson's disease
The tremors and muscle rigidity associated with this disease have been shown in limited studies to benefit from massage. Acupuncture is also helpful with symptoms.
Plantar fasciitis
This painful, debilitating heel and foot condition can be helped with a number of massage interventions. We may use massage, taping, muscle strengthening, and muscle stretching to help you recover. We are seeing clients get good results with Japanese press needles which can be utilised both during your massage treatment, and as a take-home pain relief method.
Post-surgical
Once your surgical scar has blanched (whitened), your surgeon and GP will normally be comfortable with you seeking massage as part of your recovery. One important benefit is massage technique's role in helping prevent adhesions from consolidating. There is a window of 12-16 weeks when scar formation adhesions can be influenced and prevented, so don't delay in seeking help.
Pregnancy (Pre and post-natal)
We are grateful to have been honoured to work with so many clients during their pregnancy. Massage is safe even in the first trimester despite what some schools teach and therapists advise, but we will always do a risk/benefit analysis based on your personal profile before treating.
A recent high quality and extensive medical study has shown that the so called "forbidden" points that in folklore were thought could cause adverse events if stimulated, and that so many think rule out massage, failed to show any objective evidence of harm, even when needled. Unless you are at high risk, you can safely benefit from massage at any stage of your pregnancy.
Raynaud's phenomenon
No high-quality clinical trials, but evidence of pain reduction and circulation improvements.
Restless leg's syndrome
Although a neurological condition, this condition responds well with normally a reduction in evening leg movements as compared to without massage.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis affects mostly the smaller non-weight bearing joints, unlike osteoarthritis which affects more the weight bearing joints. Massage will not be appropriate at the time of an acute flare-up, but can provide benefit at other times.Even during a flare-up, because the affected joints are usually small, these can be avoided and you can enjoy massage to other body areas safely.
Sciatica and pseudo-sciatica
Your sciatic-like typical tingling pain and numbness radiating down from your buttock and down your leg may not be true sciatica, but caused by a problematic muscle deep in the buttock called piriformis which causes so called pseudo-sciatica. Both conditions, true and pseudo can be helped, but the piriformis syndrome which pseudo-sciatica is called is easily relieved. Why not find out which one you have?
Shingles
Although caused by a virus, shingles has a stress component like so many illnesses. Massage can help as a preventative therapy to shingles, reducing the severity and extent of symptoms.
Shin splints is caused by muscle imbalances and hypertonicity (excess muscle tightness) and responds very well to massage.
Sporting injuries and sports related soreness
It is no secret that most World and Olympic sports champions from all around the globe including individuals and teams regularly use massage and cupping for prevention and recovery. Weekend warriors and recreational sports people benefit from massage and cupping also.
Stress related illnesses and anxiety disorders including panic attacks
A Swedish 2016 study published in the Journal of Psychiatry reported that this first monotherapy (massage) trial suggested that it is an effective acute treatment for Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
Stroke
A large, quality Swedish study in 2016, building on prior research from the same team, noted that touch massage (TM), has been found to have beneficial impacts on a variety of conditions. It increases relaxation and well-being in healthy individuals, in the elderly, and in others with a variety of health conditions. In the earlier project, they found decreased anxiety and pain and increased well-being among patients, and further, increased brain activity in areas related to feelings of pleasure and emotional regulation among healthy volunteers. These findings provided reason to believe that TM reduces anxiety and pain, and improves quality of life after stroke. Furthermore, several studies indicate that somatosensory stimulation can increase sensorimotor function, and the researchers concluded it is logical to believe that TM increases independence after stroke.
Wry neck or Torticollis
One of the most common conditions we treat. You wake one morning unable to fully turn your head to one side and it is painful. It normally will get better itself in 2-3 days, but responds very quickly and effectively with massage, especially within massage, the use of trigger points and resisted stretches.
You have pain, then we may have the answers. Contact us for an appointment or book using the button below.